Flying machine



Sept. 16 1924. 1,508,774

G. CAPRONI FLYING MACHINE F1199 may 14- 1 9 n -Sh et l 32 54v ii I Q \M m INVE1 TOR) AWORNEYS -multiplanes, and for illustration the inven-' Patented Sept. 16, 1924. s

UNITED STATES GIAJN'INI caraonr,

PATENTOF or MILAN, ITALY.

FLYING MACHINE.

Application filed May 14,1920. Serial No. 381,307.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GIANNI GAPRoNI, a

subject of the King of Italy, residing at Milan, Italy, have invented} certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Ma chines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the ac-' companying drawin s. I

- This invention re ates to flying machines of the aeroplane class, more particularly tion is shown as applied to a pentaplane.

The general object is to improve the sys-v tem of construction ofpentaplanes so as 130' attain certain important advantages, namely simplification of structure and reduction of resistance to passage through the air, yet preserving great strength and rigidity, thereby minimizing the dangers due to'the stresses imposed in practice. The further and more particular objects and advantages of the present invention will be elucidated in the hereinafter following description of one form or embodiment thereof or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The main body'of the aeroplane may be considered as'comprising on each of its symmetrically opposite sides a number of sections or trellis spaces, of which two'are herein shown, although more would give a greater width of machine. The space within each'trellis or section may be considered as.

divided by the superposed planes or wings into a top or superior cell, a bottom or inferior cell, and'at least one intermediate cell, or in the'case of a pentaplane, two. The present invention has to do with the building up of this structure or'systemjv ofcells and trellises by means of interconnecting members, as will be described, extending between the respective planes, or rather the framework within said planes, and with the arrangement, relation and mode of interconnection of these various elements.

In the accompanying drawings showing" one convenient form or embodimentof the present invention, Fig. 1? is a diagrammatic: front elevation intended to show theprin ciple or system of structure,'this view'omit 50 ting the wing I surfaces and many. details,

such as" the structure and'arrangement of the steering androntrol mechanisms, and

the rudders andother-rearparts. Fig. 2 is a partial'similar front diagram- ;matic view showing amodified arrangement or embodiment of the invention and Figs.

' ments.

3 and 4 similarlyishow two other embodi of the various structural members. I

s Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation.

The framework or structure within the several wings or planes is indicated -dia-' grammatically at 11, 12, 13, i l-and 15 in Fig. 1, and these references may, becon'w sidered as pertaining more particularly to the longitudinal members or beams ofthe framework, of which there-maybe one near the forwardedge andanother nearthe aft edge of each wing. The entire, interior structure is unnecessary to show, and would confuse thedrawings. In Fig. 5 are indicated in dotted lines, the superior wing or plane 16 and those successively beneath it, 17, 18, 19 and 20, the last beingthe bot-' tom or inferior. wing orlplane,and the five being spaced apart in proper relation ac cording to any convenient principles of ar- *rangement. 1 I. w ;A fuselage or nacelle 21 is shown, carry mg motor 22 and tractor propeller 23; and

obviously these elements may be duplicated or ,variously modified. Underneath the El planes is any desired structure, for landing on water or land; for example the landing chassis 25 is shown connectedto the; main portion of the machine by a system of struts 26 and stays'27. The axle 28 car ries the usual pneumatic wheels 29.

At the central portion or nucleus of the 2 machine a rigid structure of interconnected members may be afforded as follows..Near

the center and spaced apart fromeach other are the rigid uprightbars or struts 31, 31. These may be. separate bars extendingcol- ,lectively the full height ,ofithe machine, and jointed to each other and to the five wing frames or longitudinal beams. 1:1 12, 13,114: and. 15;- or the five may be rigidly united into a single rigid upright. Between the rigid opposite uprights 81, and interconnecting them with the wing frames are shown a series of members which maybe "compression members or struts as in Fig. 1,

or tension members or cables as in Fig. 5. Thus, 1n either case, the diagonal members 34: extend from the center'of beam 12 to the junctions of beam 111 with, the uprights 31. The members 35 in thenext lower cell are substantially in line with the members 34 and a similar arrangement of members 36 and 37 is shown in the lowest two cells of the nucleus.

The subject of the remainder of the description, being symmetrically equivalent at the two sides, will for convenience be de* scribed only at one side. The opposite side will be understood to be the same. Also, while the diagram, Fig. 1, indicates only a single-interconnecting member at each position, it will be understood that therewill be at least two, that is, one near the forward and one near the rear edge of each plane. The space between eachupright and the corresponding: one to the rear of it may obviously contain interconnecting braces if desired, or may be covered with a suitable surface, so that a: true. cellular construction v V firmly-umite the five planes into a solid strong structure.

ofaeroplane is afforded;

A series of rigid uprights or struts may beconsidered as dividin'g the system of superposed planes into trellises or cells. Thus, at each side ofthe center, and spaced well out from the, nucleus, is shown at each.

side an upright rigid bar orbars 32 similar tothe uprights 3'1, and forming between them the ;first trellis. A second trellis is shown, being comprised between the upright 32 and a third similar upright- 33 spaced still further from the center. The three rigiduprights 31, '32 and 33 at each side These uprights may be composed of hol low metal, or of wood, constructed in aknownfl manner and having, in cross section, an advantageous contour or: streamlineto minimize resistance as the member 'cuts through the air.

Cooperating with the described wing frames and the rigid uprights extending from" the topmost to'the lowermost frame,

I have shown, in each trellis space, crossed diagonal cables 38. These are under tension and have their extremities connected respectively to the junction of the uppermost frame with one rigid upright and the [lowermost frame with the next rigid up right. here each of these tension members or stays intersects the intermediate planes, it maybe secured to the frames thereof, and" at the ce-ntralcrossin point 39 -preferably the crossing members 38 are secured to. each; other and to the middle frame;

By the described interconnecting and bracing system the entire system of planes is. rendered strong and rigid, in resemblance to'a truss. Itwill be-understood thatthe rigid uprights31, 32 and 33 may be rigid throughout -theirheight" and fixed to each ofK-the wing frames-or mayconsist of separate:- short-uprights,pivoted at each meeting point shown in Fig. 5. This arrangement cooperation with the system' somewhat. is rather long the rigid uprights 31, 32 and of crossed cables or tension members as described affords a truss-lllre system,-made up of triangles, and thus attaining the maXin um rigidty with minimum air resistance.

The precise arrangement. may be varied For example, if the trellis space 33 may be supplemented by intermediate uprights 40 as in Fig. 2, which will preferably pass through the crossing points of the tension members 38. r f 7 Another arrangement which will often be found satisfactory is to supplement the bracing cables 38 by short rigid uprights arranged respectively in the superior and'inferior cells and extending from one frame to another, being connected to one frame at the point where the tension member crosses the same. a

In Fig. i a rigid diagonal or series of short diagonals 4-2 is shown, crossing the trellis space from corner to corner, this st .icture being an advantageous substitute f the crossed cables 38, under certain con ditions, and" involving less air resistance.

It is not deemed necessary to completely expound the theoryv of stresses and strains involved, but from the explanations given it will be seen that in practical usethe present invention accomplishes the objects and advantages a-lready recited; Since certain matters of arrangement, form and detail may be modified without departing from the principles involved, it is not intended to limit the invention exce tin'so far" as set forth in the appended claims.

' l Vhat is claimed is: j a

1, r1 pentaplane flying machine com-pris ing in combination its five planes with their structural frames (11, 12,13, 14, "15), a nucleus, and at eachside a series of spaced apart rigid uprights (32, 33) connected to the frames of all of the planes, and forming 'a series .of trellises symmetrically-m ranged, each trellis space divided intofour cells'by the intermediate plane's (12, 13, 14),

the said trellis spaces spanned bylongdiagonal brace members (38 or 42) and free from other diagonal resistance-producing brace members, sa1d diagonal members each apart rigid uprights ('32, 33)"connected to the frames of'all of the planes, and forming a series of trellises synnnetrically ar ranged, eachtrellis space divided into four cells by the intermediate planes (12, 13, 14;),

the said trellis spaces spanned by two long diagonal tension cables (38, 38), said diagonal cables each extending from the junction of one of said uprights With the top frame to the junction of the other upright with the lowest frame, the said cables both 1 attached to the middle frame at their crossing point; and rigid brace members eX- tending from the intersection of each ClIEL- gonal with an intermediate plane to points GIANNI OAPRONI. 

